Observations on Art 5.24

This. This just fascinates me.

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei released this video for the song "Dumbass" on his website Wednesday morning and I've watched it a few times since then. The video, which is blocked in China, is meant to represent the artist's 81 day detention in 2011. Ai Weiwei said the video shows an exact recreation of the cell in which he was held down to the wallpaper. "Music is a kind of self-therapy and at the same time helps the public to see. Even conditions like these can still turn into a positive effort," he told The Guardian. The song will be released on an album titled Divina Commedia on June 22^nd which is also the anniversary of his release from prison. Ai Weiwei wrote all the lyrics and does all the singing on the album which he says was inspired by the public support Elton John gave him.

The New York Times thought the lyrics too vulgar to print but I don't have their constraints so here they are:

"When you're ready to strike, he mumbles about non-violence.
When you pinch his ear, he says it's no cure for diarrhea.
You say you're a mother-fucker, he claims he's invincible.
You say you're a mother-fucker, he claims he's invincible.
Fuck forgiveness, tolerance be damned, to hell with manners, the low-life's invincible.
Fuck forgiveness, tolerance be damned, to hell with manners, the low-life's invincible.
Oh dumbass, oh such dumbass! Oh dumbass, oh such dumbass!
Oh dumbass, oh such dumbass! Oh dumbass, oh such dumbass!
Lalalalala, lalalalala Lalalalala, lalalalala
Lalalalala, lalalalala Lalalalala, lalalalala

Stand on the frontline like a dumbass, in a country that puts out like a hooker.
The field's full of fuckers, dumbasses are everywhere.
The field's full of fuckers, dumbasses are everywhere.
Fuck forgiveness, tolerance be damned, to hell with manners, the low-life's invincible.
You say you're a mother-fucker, he claims he's invincible.
You say you're a mother-fucker, he claims he's invincible.
The field is full of fuckers, dumbasses are everywhere.
The field's full of fuckers, dumbasses are everywhere."

link

Ai Weiwei
Published on May 21, 2013
Music video for Dumbass by Ai Weiwei. Song by Ai Weiwei with music by Zuoxiao Zuzhou. Cinematography by Christopher Doyle.
© 2013 Ai Weiwei.